Messmate — Eucalyptus obliqua
A specifier's hardwood with one of the most distinctive grain patterns of any Australian eucalypt. Native to Tasmania, Victoria and the southern NSW tablelands — sold commercially as part of the "Tasmanian Oak" and "Australian Oak" group. Class 3 — Moderately Durable above-ground heartwood, best suited to protected internal applications: flooring, lining, joinery and furniture.
Messmate products
We don't hold stock Messmate lines off the shelf — we source on a project-by-project basis from established Victorian mills. Various profiles available on request. Typical lead times: 2–6 weeks.
Technical ReferenceSummary
Messmate (Eucalyptus obliqua) — also known as Messmate Stringybark, Brown-top Stringybark and Victorian Messmate — is a native eucalypt of Tasmania, Victoria and the higher-altitude regions of southern NSW and southern Queensland. In trade, it is one of the three species commonly milled and sold under the umbrella names "Tasmanian Oak" and "Australian Oak" (alongside Alpine Ash and Mountain Ash).
The species is characterised by a clean, pale appearance with distinctive growth ring figure — visually it is closer to a temperate ash or oak than to a tropical Australian hardwood. Density 770 kg/m³ air-dry. Strength SD3 seasoned (S3 unseasoned), Joint JD3 seasoned (J3 unseasoned), F-grade F27 seasoned. Janka 7.3 kN seasoned. Natural durability is moderate — Class 3 above ground (7–15 years) — and the heartwood is not termite-resistant. Sapwood is Lyctus-susceptible. The practical implication: Messmate is excellent for protected internal applications and is not typically specified for exterior structural or decking use without preservation treatment. BCA Group 4 fire rating, approved for BAL 12.5 and BAL 19 bushfire zones.
Class 3 of 4
Character & Appearance
Heartwood is light brown — sometimes with a slight pinkish or yellow cast — with sapwood that is pale yellow to pale brown and not always sharply distinct from heartwood. The defining visual feature of Messmate is its strongly defined growth rings, which produce a distinctive figure on plain-sawn boards that some specifiers prize for its decorative quality.
Grain is generally straight but is sometimes interlocking. Texture is moderately coarse but even, and Messmate machines, glues and bends well. Where preservation is needed, the species can be difficult to impregnate with preservatives — a consideration if specifying for an application that requires H3 or higher treatment.
Species & General Properties
Mechanical & Physical Properties
| Property | Unseasoned | Seasoned |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 1,090 kg/m³ | 770 kg/m³ |
| Janka hardness | 5.3 kN | 7.3 kN |
| Modulus of rupture (bending) | 71 MPa | 118 MPa |
| Modulus of elasticity | 12 GPa | 15 GPa |
| Maximum crushing strength | 37 MPa | 64 MPa |
| Strength Group | S3 | SD3 |
| Stress Grade (typical, Structural No.1) | F17 | F27 |
| Joint Group | J3 | JD3 |
| Shrinkage (Total) | Value |
|---|---|
| Tangential shrinkage | 11.30 % |
| Radial shrinkage | 5.10 % |
Recommended Applications
Messmate's combination of straight grain, attractive growth ring figure, moderate strength and clean light-brown colour makes it one of the most popular Australian flooring and internal joinery species. Its low natural durability and lack of termite resistance limit it strictly to protected internal applications.
Specification Notes
- Best for protected internal use. Messmate's Class 3 durability gives 7–15 years above-ground service, which is short for unprotected exterior or decking applications. Specify a more durable species (e.g. Spotted Gum, Blackbutt, Ironbark) for those uses, or use Messmate under cover.
- Recommended spec wording: "Messmate (Eucalyptus obliqua) — AS 5604 Class 3 above-ground durability, Strength Group SD3 seasoned, Joint Group JD3 seasoned, F-grade F27 seasoned."
- Messmate is one of the three species (with Alpine Ash E. delegatensis and Mountain Ash E. regnans) commercially sold as "Tasmanian Oak" and "Australian Oak". Where a specific species is required, specify Eucalyptus obliqua explicitly.
- Sapwood is Lyctus-susceptible — specify Lyctus-treated sapwood, or heartwood-only material, for internal applications.
- Not termite-resistant — adequate termite barrier or chemical protection required per AS 3660 in termite-prone areas.
- Preservative impregnation can be difficult — Messmate is not commonly available as H3+ treated material.
- Bushfire performance: BCA Group 4 fire rating. Approved under AS 3959 for use in BAL 12.5 and BAL 19 bushfire-prone zones.
- Floor acclimatisation: Messmate has comparatively high tangential shrinkage (11.30%). Acclimatise boards to room moisture content (10–12% typical) for at least 7 days before laying.
References
Speccing Messmate for a project?Messmate for a project?
We source Messmate on a per-project basis from Victorian mills. Talk to us about flooring, lining boards, joinery — including profile, grade and quantity. Typical lead times 2–6 weeks.